The second largest rugby stadium in the Gallagher Premiership offered just enough space for the roughly 350 participants who came to central England's Leicester on 27 November 2024 to discuss current trends and developments at the invitation of the British Onion Producer Association and the British Carrot Growers Association.
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Despite Christmas being just around the corner, the bad news did not stop: NFU President Tom Bradshaw reported on the difficulties of being heard by the newly elected cabinet, after being welcomed by Tim Elcombe and Chris Bettinson. Simon Conway and Kim Parker's outlook on the future of chemical crop protection could not improve the mood. David Pye's report on the almost autonomous field at Huntapac was exciting. Whether regenerative agriculture, presented by Duncan Williams, is so far removed from good agricultural practice could not be definitively clarified. Ged Futter's market and insights provided further sobering thoughts before lunch.
Jordan Long then shared what his employer is doing and Mercedes Torres Torres provided the latest news from the Fusarium research. Andy Richardson could not avoid showing pictures of flooded fields, but with Jens Kristian Kjehldahl, there was at least one speaker who radiated optimism. Pernyllle Kinde outlined the Danish organic market, with Simon Jackson and Paul Goddard sketching out the suitable crop protection products. Shay Myers, Farina Lurz and Lena Pollul also saw more than just the negative side, while David Webster would have liked more sustainability and then sat on the panel for the final discussion with Simon Thorpe, Ed Pissaro, Ian Holmes and Stephen Shields.
Photos and text: Tim Jacobsen
For more information:
http://www.onionandcarrotconference.co.uk/